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On Thursday, January 21st, the Congressional Historic Preservation Caucus hosted nearly 60 House and Senate staffers at an educational session entitled “Hot Topics in Historic Preservation” in the Rayburn House Office Building on Capitol Hill. This briefing on the national historic preservation program was sponsored by the History Channel and a coalition of preservation partners including the Advisory Council on Historic Preservation, the National Park Service, the National Association of Tribal Historic Preservation Officers, the National Conference of State Historic Preservation Officers, the National Trust for Historic Preservation, Preservation Action, and the National Alliance of Preservation Commissions.The purpose of this educational session was to familiarize staff with components of the national historic preservation program including the National Register of Historic Places, Save America’s Treasures grants, Preserve America, and State and Tribal Historic Preservation Offices, as well as inform staff about key contemporary aspects of preservation, including sustainability, the history and use of the Historic Preservation Fund, and how preservation is a vital economic and community development tool and strategy.

The Historic Preservation Caucus, chaired by Representatives Russ Carnahan (D-MO) and Michael Turner (R-OH), serves as a forum for Members to discuss ways to protect and revitalize America’s historic places and structures. In the 111th Congress the Caucus will focus on historic preservation’s important role in sustainable economic development and neighborhood revitalization. Three members of the Maryland Congressional delegation are members of the Caucus including Representatives Elijah Cummings, John Sarbanes, and Chris Van Hollen.